Rereading/Rewatching the Harry Potter Series
On McGonagall: do remember that when she found out that Harry and friends were doing their shenanigans, she punished them by giving them detention with Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest... which is probably not the best place to send children at night. This is also the same lady that allowed a first-year to play Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
As for Neville's punishment, yeah, it's absolutely awful, and the only thing that makes him remotely safe is the security trolls outside the entrance. If Snape was the Head of Gryffindor, he would give Neville an in-dorm suspension to not only prevent him from slipping up, but also keep him safe.
I forget about what happened between Hermione and the boys, so I skimmed the chapter for that, and yeah, Harry and Ron are being dicks.
- Hermione's taking more classes than possible via literally bending time and space (which is pretty dangerous and not suitable for use at the hands of a teenager), so she would be less capable of responding to too many things due to how spread-out she is. However, she chose to take those extra courses and put more work on her shoulders, so her inability to manage her pet is by her own doing.
- However, Harry and Ron, especially Ron, are being dicks about it by alienating her and putting more stress on her. Whether or not they know about the time travel is irrelevant.
- Also, if Hermione is responsible for not keeping an eye on her cat, then Ron is responsible for not keeping an eye on his rat. We know that Crookshanks is innocent, but for the sake of the scenario, Scabbers's death is also Ron's fault. One of his friends just got a cat, so it would stand to reason that he would take extra precautions to protect Scabbers, if he was smart about it.
Good on Hagrid.
A few more thoughts now that I've finished the book:
- I love the Marauders… or more specifically, I love what they bring to the story. I might judge the hell out of them as individual characters, even loathe of them at times, but they do make things much more interesting.
- The Time-Turner drives me up the wall and is perhaps the biggest plot hole in the entire series. I mean, they can't be that strictly regulated if one is being given to a schoolgirl so she can take more classes. So why aren't they used more often, especially in situations where they could make a much more significant difference (e.g. saving lives)? This is never adequately explained.
- The climax of this book is fantastic and the main reason why it's my favorite. Of course, I know what to expect now, but the first time I read it? I never would've guessed that Sirius had been framed, and I was equally surprised by Lupin and Pettigrew. I also like it because it deals with complicated relationships between interesting characters… it's not just another version of "Voldemort tries and fails to come back and kill Harry".
- While I liked Snape from the beginning, this book is where I fell in love with him. That was true the first time I read it, but damn… my heart aches even more for him now that I know his whole story. Yes, the climax was good, but for him, it was absolutely harrowing. His behavior is also 100% understandable, considering that he honestly believes Sirius is responsible for Lily's death.
I won't get too into that (almost bedtime), but yeah… I can't imagine how painful that must've been for him.
Oh, and speaking of pain…
Fuck Sirius for letting Snape's head bang against shit while he's unconscious (a.k.a. completely helpless). That is infuriating behavior, though it does paint another interesting contrast. When Snape is conscious and the others are not, what does he do? He places them on stretchers and transports them safely to the castle. He does this after Harry has assaulted/injured him, does it for characters he has far more reason to hate than vice versa (Sirius). He could've injured both of them and easily gotten away with it, yet… he doesn't.
I find this telling, proof that Snape is not a violent person. Yes, he wanted to see Sirius punished (rightly so based on what he believed at the time), but he shows no interest in doing it himself. We know it's not due to a lack of courage or capability, which means that his restraint is a deliberate choice. That says a lot about his character, IMO.
As for the movie…
While I generally prefer the books, there are a few "movie only" scenes that I love throughout the series. Severus shielding the trio from the werewolf is one of my absolute favorites, because it feels perfectly in character. Snape is terrified of werewolves (for good reason), yet his first instinct is to protect Harry and his friends. It's a beautiful moment, one that highlights his bravery/selflessness. I wish it had been depicted that way in the book… it would've been way more satisfying than him being passed out the entire time.
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- I agree with your point on the Marauders; the story wouldn't be interesting without them.
- I feel like Harry and friends could have accomplished everything that happened without using the Time-Turner.
- Prior to reevaluating my preferences, I would say the reveal scene was my favorite part of the movies, so much so that I would rewatch the entire series for the sole purpose of seeing that scene unfold.
- As for Snape, yeah, the other characters did him dirty, and it's just one of those times where I can't help but think that everyone's screwing him over. When Snape reminds Dumbledore about what Sirius tried to do, and Dumbledore replies that his memory is as good as ever, that really fucked with me. This is the first time that it's confirmed that Dumbledore knew about what happened and covered it up, to the benefit of the Marauders and detriment of Snape.
I've started Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which is my least favorite next to Chamber of Secrets. I remember not liking it as much due to pacing issues - parts of it are downright boring, and all the World Cup stuff feels like a slog if you're not into Quidditch. I remember thinking, "can't we just get to Hogwarts already? Unfortunately, there were issues there, too.
I don't like Harry's participation in the tournament. If it had been all ages, then maybe, but JKR's determination to shoehorn him into situations where he doesn't belong is tiresome/deeply unfair to the other students. I realize that the series is about him and he needs to be actively involved. But making him the absolute center of attention/de facto celebrity in every situation becomes obnoxious. I think I would've enjoyed the book more if he hadn't been one of the champions. Or, failing that, if it was written in a way that he had to step in at the last minute.
The other thing I didn't like…
With Prisoner of Azkaban, I loved the introduction of the Marauders. I might not like them the way I like Snape, but they are genuinely interesting characters that add tons of depth to the story. I don't get that with Goblet of Fire… while we're introduced to lots of new characters, most are not that interesting and don't contribute anything to the larger story arc.
Also, I hate the entire concept of the Veela. I'm sure it wasn't JKR's intention, but it plays on misogynistic stereotypes that make women seem petty, insecure, and shallow. Not only that, but it does it in an exaggerated way, which (at least for me) is impossible to ignore.
Anyway, I'm currently on chapter 7. I'll comment more in a bit, and (if possible) I'll include some positives with my complaints. 🙂
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I think Goblet of Fire might be my least favorite due to Harry being shoe-horned into the tournament in such a way. I could buy that Barty Confunded the Cup into thinking Harry was 17, but having four champions in a three-champion game is silly.
I don't really mind the other characters introduced, but they're definitely not on Marauder-level interesting. Maybe Moody, but then again, most of that was Barty.
On Veela: I actually don't mind them that much, and I treat them the same way as I would treat goblins, house-elves, and similar magical sentient species. In fact, it seems Rowling actually adopted them from the Slavic vila, so she might have been trying to stay as accurate to the folklore as possible.
One note I want to make is how similar Viktor Krum's description could be to a young Snape (both descriptions are from their respective wiki pages):
Viktor was a tall, thin, sallow young man with dark hair and eyes. He had a large, curved nose that he inherited from his father, a sharp profile, thick, black eyebrows. Despite appearing graceful while flying on a broomstick, he was round-shouldered and duck-footed while on the ground.
Hermione Granger described him as "grumpy-looking" and not particularly handsome, though on the latter occasion, she was annoyed because his "fan club" would follow him into the library and make noise while she was trying to read.
Severus Snape was a thin man with sallow skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He usually dressed in flowing black robes which made him resemble "an overgrown bat". He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his face in curtains, curling lips and dark, penetrating eyes that resembled tunnels. As a Death Eater, he bore the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm.
The younger Snape had a "stringy, pallid look", being "round-shouldered yet angular" and with a "twitchy walk that recalled a spider", as well as "long oily hair that jumped about his face".
I never picked up on the similarities between Viktor and Snape, but wow. You're so right!
Also, it lends further credence to Severus/Hermione as a ship. If she was attracted to Krum, it's not much of a stretch to imagine her being attracted to Snape as well.
Meanwhile, I just finished chapter 14. Not much else to say so far, though I'm sure I'll post more later on.
Okay, Goblet of Fire is definitely my least favorite book, not Chamber of Secrets. I'm only on Chapter 23, and I feel like I've been reading this book forever. I'm even less interested in the tournament that I was the last time I read it, though I do feel sorry for the other champions. I even feel sorry for Ron (who often annoys me). It's hard to blame him for being upset that Harry is once again the absolute center of attention.
I would've preferred the tournament without Harry, but he had to be included, it would've been better (and more realistic) if he hadn't performed as well. The goblet specifically chose the other (legitimate) champions because each of them were exceptional. They also (as Harry observes at one point) have had three more years of magical education… wouldn't it make sense for them to consistently outperform him?
This would've been good for Harry. It would've made him seem more flawed/relatable. Also, it would've dovetailed nicely with future events. Harry is humbled, loses a bit of his shine… it would've made even more sense that no one believed him about Voldemort's return if he'd also lost some of his "celebrity" status.
Anyway, back to reading. I'll comment further later on.
The only element I really like about GoF is the inclusion of other European wizarding schools. I wish Rowling had gone more in-depth with developing how the schools function and how they get along with the Hogwarts students and staff.
Fleur gets shafted so hard in the tournament; she gets third place in the first challenge and doesn't even finish the next two. That has to be soul-crushing for her; not only is she consistently underperforming, but on the international stage. Without Harry's participation, she would be last place in all three tasks.
Viktor's alright. From what I've read up on him on the wiki in terms of personality, the movies missed it a bit. Hermione says he's a more physical person, when in the books, he's actually very enthusiastic about talking with Hermione once he gets to know her.
I don't know how I feel about Cedric. He's not a bad guy, but he kinda gets wasted here.
The only important thing that happens in this book is that Voldemort returns. But as I don't like how Harry gets shoehorned into the tournament in this way, it makes the tournament a bit of a plot device. If all Barty had to do was Portkey Harry to the graveyard, why didn't he just... do it? When they were alone? No need for a tournament, just make a Portkey, have it triggered when Harry touches it, and bam! There you go.
Chapter 25 - The Egg And The Eye
Damn, I'd forgotten what a dick "Moody" was to Snape. I'm glad Snape gets to be part of his comeuppance later on… that must've been deeply satisfying for him.
I've finally finished, and I do have some positive things to say:
- While the beginning and middle feel like a slog, I do like the third task and everything that follows. JKR did a great job of weaving all the threads together, and the writing itself is compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed the graveyard scene – it still felt suspenseful, even though I knew what to expect. Also, I'd forgotten some of the details as to how Harry ended up in the tournament and why he was so successful. Now that I've had a refresher, I see it in a different/slightly more forgiving light. Still not my favorite storyline, but I'm generally okay with it now.
- I love, love, LOVE the way Snape is depicted near the end of the book. Most mentions brief/relatively subtle, but these are the first real glimpses we have of him as a spy, not just as a teacher/Harry's supposed nemesis. In particular, I love the mention of his face being pale and eyes glittering strangely when (as we know now) he's about to go see Voldemort. He must've been terrified, but he only shows it in the most subtle, barely perceptible ways. That's a testament to his courage, his determination to follow through no matter what the consequences might be.
- While I'm not that into the Weasleys as a rule, I really love that Harry gave his winnings to the twins. That was a sweet gesture, and (from my perspective) well deserved. The twins were talented and worked hard to achieve their dream. I'm glad they were given the opportunity to make it a reality.
I've been watching each maybe right after I finish the book, but this time, I think I'll make an exception. I'm eager to dive into Order of the Phoenix… I'll catch up on both movies after I'm done.
